Match-box.



G. WIGK. MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2 1 913' Patented Apr. 21, 191.4.

' UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

CHARLES WICK, OF MIAMI, ARIZONA.

MATCH-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W101i, citizen of the United States,residing at Miami, in the county of Gila and State of Arizona, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in pocket matchboxes and the object of my invention is to provide a match box having aremovable, but non-detachable, cover.

A further object of my invention is to construct a match box of thecharacter described in which the cover may be raised to free it from thebox and then swung at an angle to hold it in open position while thematches are removed from the box and which, when swung back to originalposition, will automatically move into engagement with the box to closethe same. And a still further object of my invention is to provide apocket match box having a closure so constructed and formed as to renderthe box water tight.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and thenspecifically pointed out in the claim which is attached to and forms apart of this application.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the match box open;Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the box in closedposition; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indi cated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

The preferred embodiment of my invention includes a box or casing 10 anda cover 11 secured, as will be hereinafter explained, in such a way asto be at all times connected to the box whether in operative orinoperative position. The body 10 is preferably spun or otherwise formedin a single piece from any suitable metal, being closed at one end andopen at the other, the wall of the box surrounding said open end beingpreferably tapered inwardly as shown at 12 to form a seat for thetapered flange 13 of the top or closure 11. Because of thisconstruction, the cover when in closed position will Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed January 2, 1913.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Serial N 0. 739,834.

lie flush with the same, to all appearances be ng an integral part ofthe box. The box 10 is divided transversely at its center, by partitionWalls 14: and 15, the edges of which are bent laterally and soldered orotherwise secured to the inner face of the box as shown at 16- into twomatch receiving compartments or chambers, one at either side of thesepartitions. These partitions or division walls 14: and 15 are bowed awayfrom each other longitudinally to form in efi'ect a cylindrical tubularhousing, designated as a whole by the numeral 17 As best shown in Fig. 2of the drawing, this housing terminates short of the top of the matchbox and the upper ends of the walls forming the housing are providedwith ears 18.

An eye 19 is soldered or otherwise secured to the central portion of theinner face of the cover 11 and a rod 20 provided at one end with an eye21 engaging the eye 19 and provided at its opposite end with a stopshoulder 22 depends from the cover extending within the housing 17. Acoiled spring 23 is positioned about this rod within the housing withits lower end bearing against the stop collar 22 and with its upper endbearing against a washer 24: carried by the rod and maintained againstupward movement by the inturning of the ears 18.

The cover 11 is preferably provided with a lining 25 of rubber or othersuitable packing material which engages between the top of the match boxand the cover when the latter is in closed position to form a Watertightfit. In order to hold this lining or packing in place in the cover, ametallic washer 26 is interposed about the eye 19, being held againstthe packing by said eye.

The positioning and arrangement of the various parts of the match boxare clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, showing the cover inclosed position. When the match box is to be opened, the cover 11 isdrawn outwardly from the box to free it thereform, the spring 23 beingcompressed by the outward movement of the rod 20 and its collar 22. henthe cover is freed from the box it is swung at an angle across the topof the same in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, thespring holding it against complete disengagement from the box. In thisposition, matches may be readily removed from the box by slightlytilting seat upon the upper end of the box and will I the same. To closethebox it is merely necessary to turn the cover to bring the same intoalinement with the box when the spring 23 will automatically draw it toclosed position.

Because of this construction, the match box may be opened and closed byone hand alone. The spring 23, not only serves as means forautomatically closing the box, but also insures a close engagement ofthe cover and box and a sufficient compression of the lining or packing25 to render the match box water tight.

It will of course be -understood that I do not in any Way limit myselfto any specific size, shape or proportions in the construction of thematch box, and it will further be understood that I reserve the right tomake the box of any material other than metal which is adapted for thepurpose, if I desire, and also to make any minor changes in details ofconstruction, such as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

A match box including a casing closed at its lower end, partition wallsextending transversely across the casing bearing one against the otherand having their free edge portions laterally bent and secured to thewall of the casing, the intermediate portions of said partition wallsbeing bent away from each other to form a cylindrical housing, the upperends of said housing having inwardly directed retaining fingers, a coverfor the casing, and means operatively connected to the cover, seated inthe housing and retained therein by said fingers for yieldably holdingthe cover in place,

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES WIOK. [13.3.]

Witnesses:

C. E. GQLDING, R. G. KEEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fi ve cents each, addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

